Automatic hair dryer

ABSTRACT

An automatic hair dryer that automatically operates when held or touched by a hand. The air volume and degree of heat also may be automatically adjusted using humidity and temperature sensors, thereby simplifying operation and control for the user. The hair dryer automatically shuts off after use, thereby promoting energy conservation and safety.

This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/149,581, filed Apr. 18, 2015, by Francisco Guerra, etal., and is entitled to that filing date for priority. Thespecification, figures, and complete disclosure of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/149,581 are incorporated herein in their entiretiesby specific reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to an automatic hair dryer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hair dryers for drying and shaping hair are widely used. Home hairdryers have adopted a variety of mechanical buttons and switches usedfor operations. These buttons and switches can be inconvenient to use,can be improperly operated, or can be left on, thereby wasting energyand creating hazards. An example of an automatic hair dryer withhumidity and temperature sensors is disclosed in application CN103251196 (Automatic Hair Drier), which is incorporated herein byspecific reference in its entirety for all purposes. The presentinvention comprises an improved automatic hair dryer with additionalfeatures beyond the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention comprises anautomatic hair dryer that automatically operates when held or touched bya hand. The air volume and degree of heat also may be automaticallyadjusted, thereby simplifying operation and control for the user. Thehair dryer automatically shuts off after use, thereby promoting energyconservation and safety.

In one exemplary embodiment, the hair dryer comprises a hair dryer bodywith a handle and a power cord to connect the hair dryer to a powersupply (e.g., electrical outlet). The handle of the hair dryer comprisesa sensor or induction switch to detect when a user has picked up thedryer, thereby starting automatic operations. When the sensor switchdetects that the user's hand has been removed (such as by setting thehair dryer down), the hair dryer is automatically shut off. Thepreferred sensor switch is a hand-touch sensor switch.

In an alternative embodiment, a power and/or speed switch or trigger ina position on the body or handle to be easily manipulated by the user(using an index finger or thumb) may be provided with several positions.In the off position, the hair dryer will not operate even when the dryeris held by the user, thereby allowing the user to hold the hair dryerwithout having it run. There may be multiple blowing speeds (e.g., slow,medium, high) or multiple temperatures that can be selected, but thedryer will not operate unless the user is holding the handle and iscontact with the sensor switch. When the user sets the dryer down, thedryer automatically shuts off.

An internal humidity sensor inside the body detects hair humidity, whilea temperature sensor detects room temperature. One or more internalcontrollers, which may be located inside the body of the hair dryer,controls operation of the hair dryer, and based upon the humidity andtemperature sensor readings, adjust the volume and temperature of theair blown by the dryer through the nozzle in the body. The controller orcontrollers may come with pre-determined ranges or settings (e.g.,maximum temperature, maximum air speed). The hair dryer canautomatically stop operation when the humidity sensor determines thatthe hair has reached a desired humidity level, or when the user removeshis or her hand from the sensor switch.

In alternative embodiments, the humidity sensor is located in or nearthe nozzle of the hair dryer, so as to be in proximity of the hair beingdried. The ambient temperature sensor may be located near the motor orair intake, so as to more accurately judge the amount of heat to beapplied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a hair dryer in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the hair dryer of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention comprises anautomatic hair dryer that automatically operates when held or touched bya hand. The air volume and degree of heat also may be automaticallyadjusted, thereby simplifying operation and control for the user. Thehair dryer automatically shuts off after use, thereby promoting energyconservation and safety.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, in one exemplary embodiment, the hair dryer ofthe present invention comprises a hair dryer body 1 with a handle and apower cord 2 to connect the hair dryer to a power supply (e.g.,electrical outlet). The handle of the hair dryer comprises a sensor orinduction switch 3 to detect when a user has picked up the dryer,thereby starting automatic operations. When the sensor switch 3 detectsthat the user's hand has been removed (such as by setting the hair dryerdown), the hair dryer is automatically shut off. The preferred sensorswitch 3 is a hand-touch sensor switch.

In an alternative embodiment, a power and/or speed switch 20 or trigger22 in a position on the body or handle to be easily manipulated by theuser (using an index finger or thumb) may be provided with severalpositions. In the off position, the hair dryer will not operate evenwhen the dryer is held by the user, thereby allowing the user to holdthe hair dryer without having it run. There may be multiple blowingspeeds (e.g., slow, medium, high) or multiple temperatures that can beselected (such as by a temperature control, which may be a separateswitch, or integrated with the power switch—e.g., Off, Low Heat, MediumHeat, and High Heat positions—or the speed switch or the trigger), butthe dryer will not operate unless the user is holding the handle and iscontact with the sensor switch. When the user sets the dryer down, thedryer automatically shuts off.

An internal humidity sensor 5 inside the body detects hair humidity,while a temperature sensor 6 detects room temperature. One or moreinternal controllers 4, which may be located inside the body of the hairdryer, controls operation of the hair dryer, and based upon the humidityand temperature sensor readings, adjust the volume and temperature ofthe air blown by the dryer through the nozzle in the body. Thecontroller or controllers may come with pre-determined ranges orsettings (e.g., maximum temperature, maximum air speed). The hair dryercan automatically stop operation when the humidity sensor determinesthat the hair has reached a desired humidity level, or when the userremoves his or her hand from the sensor switch 3.

In alternative embodiments, the humidity sensor is located in or nearthe nozzle of the hair dryer, so as to be in proximity of the hair beingdried. The ambient temperature sensor may be located near the motor orair intake, so as to more accurately judge the amount of heat to beapplied.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a portable, hand-held,automatic hair dryer than can detect hair dampness/moisture and ambienttemperature, and then automatically adjust air volume and temperature asneeded. Operation is simple and easy, and the dryer automatically turnsoff after the user's hand is removed, thereby promoting energyefficiency and safety.

Thus, it should be understood that the embodiments and examplesdescribed herein have been chosen and described in order to bestillustrate the principles of the invention and its practicalapplications to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to bestutilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited for particular uses contemplated. Eventhough specific embodiments of this invention have been described, theyare not to be taken as exhaustive. There are several variations thatwill be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved automatic hair dryer, comprising: ahair dryer body with a handle, and with a nozzle operable to dischargeair; and a sensor located on the handle configured to detect when a useris holding the hair dryer; wherein the hair dryer will not discharge airif the sensor on the handle does not detect a user holding the hairdryer.
 2. The hair dryer of claim 1, further comprising a power switchwith an on position and an off position, wherein the hair dryer will notdischarge air if the sensor on the handle does not detect a user holdingthe hair dryer, or if the power switch is in the off position.
 3. Thehair dryer of claim 2, further comprising a speed switch operable toadjust the velocity of the discharged air.
 4. The hair dryer of claim 2,further comprising a temperature control operable to adjust thetemperature of the discharged air.
 5. The hair dryer of claim 1, furthercomprising a humidity sensor configured to detect humidity in the areaof the nozzle.
 6. The hair dryer of claim 5, wherein the humidity sensoris located in or near the nozzle.
 7. The hair dryer of claim 1, furthercomprising a temperature sensor configured to detect ambienttemperature.
 8. The hair dryer of claim 1, further comprising a humiditysensor configured to detect humidity in the area of the nozzle, and atemperature sensor configured to detect ambient temperature.
 9. The hairdryer of claim 8, wherein the hair dryer will adjust the velocity,temperature, or both velocity and temperature of the discharged airbased on the sensor readings from the humidity sensor, temperaturesensor, or both.
 10. The hair dryer of claim 8, wherein the hair dryerwill cease discharging air when the humidity sensor reading is below apre-determined threshold.
 11. The hair dryer of claim 9, wherein theadjustment is controlled by a controller located in the body.